Current Affairs Today

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs March 21 2026, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2026 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

GoI launches RELIEF scheme to support Indian exporters amid West Asia conflict
In March 2026, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I) announced the launch of a new initiative, Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) scheme to support Indian exporters impacted by the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
Key Highlights
Purpose: The RELIEF initiative is a time-bound and targeted measure aimed at mitigating the impact of rising logistics costs, higher insurance premiums, and war-related risks affecting export consignments moving to or through the Gulf region.
Financial Outlay: The scheme will be implemented with a financial outlay of Rs 497 crore (Cr) under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM).

• A dashboard-based monitoring system will be introduced to track claims and fund utilisation in real time.

Implementing Agency: The ECGC Ltd. (Formerly Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd.), wholly owned by Government of India (GoI), has been designated as the nodal and implementing agency responsible for verification, claim processing, disbursement and monitoring.

CEA Midterm Review of 20th Electric Power Survey: India’s Power Capacity to Reach 1,121 GW by 2035-36
In March 2026, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the apex power planning body under the Ministry of Power(MoP), released the midterm review of the 20th Electric Power Survey (EPS) titled ‘National Generation Adequacy Plan (2026-27 to 2035-36)’ at the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 held in at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi(Delhi).

• According to the survey, India’s installed power generation capacity is projected to rise from around 520 Gigawatt (GW) (as of 31 January 2026) to 1,121 GW by 2035–36, with peak electricity demand expected to reach 459 GW with Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.58% and total electricity requirement increasing to 3,365 billion units (BU) (CAGR: 6.41%) between Financial Year 2024-25(FY25) and FY36.

India Power Sector Outlook (2035–36):
Generation: Gross generation rises to 3,596 BU and net generation nearly doubles from 1,725 BU to around 3,450 BU.
Energy Mix: Solar Photovoltaic (PV) leads with 509 GW (45%) share, followed by Coal (315 GW) (28%), Wind (155 GW) (14%), Hydropower (77 GW) (7%), with Nuclear (22 GW), Gas (20 GW), Biomass (16 GW), and Small Hydro (6 GW) contributing smaller shares.
Non-fossil: Non-fossil capacity reaches 786 GW (~70%) while its generation share rises to nearly 49% by 2035–36.

NIRYAT Data for FY25: TN Becomes Top Textile Exporter
In March 2026, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I) released the National-Import-Export Record for Yearly Analysis of Trade (NIRYAT)data for the Financial Year 2024-25(FY25).

• As per the report, Tamil Nadu (TN) has emerged as India’s top state in textile exports, registered exports worth USD 7,997.17 million(21.84% of India’s overall exports).

Key Findings:
Total Value of Exports: The data further revealed that the total value of India’s textile export stood at USD 36,610 million in FY25.
Other Top States: TN is followed by Gujarat which secured the 2nd rank with exports USD 5,646.01 million; Maharashtra at USD 3,831.28 million.
About NIRYAT: It is a dedicated platform launched by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in 2022, providing real-time comprehensive data on foreign trade.

BPCL Launches India’s 1st LPG ATM in Gurugram, Haryana
In March 2026, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), launched India’s 1st Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Automated Teller Machine (ATM) at Central Park Flower Valley in Sector 33, Sohna, in Gurugram, Haryana.

• The launch was part of BPCL’s pilot project branded as ‘BharatGas Insta LPG’, which aims to test automated gas distribution in urban areas of the country.

About India’s 1st LPG ATM:
Objective: It is designed to provide quick, safe, and round-the-clock access to LPG, particularly during global supply shortages amid West Asia war crises.
Digital Process: Registered BharatGas customers are required to enter their registered mobile number, verify it via One Time Password (OTP), and scan the barcode or Quick Response (QR) code on their empty cylinder and complete the payment process digitally through Unified Payments Interface (UPI) or debit card.
Cylinder Type:The LPG ATM offers lightweight composite cylinder weighing about 15 kilogram (kg) compared to  the conventional iron cylinders which weigh nearly 31 kg.
Capacity: The newly launched LPG ATM has the capacity to hold a maximum of 10 cylinders. When stock falls below two cylinders, the nearest gas agency will get an alert to replenish the machine.

IA Conducts Exercise ‘Amogh Jwala’ at Babina Field Firing Ranges, UP
The Southern Command of Indian Army (IA) successfully conducted Exercise ‘Amogh Jwala’ from March 6 to 18, 2026 at the Babina Field Firing Ranges in Uttar Pradesh (UP).

• The 13-day long military exercise aimed to validate the IA’s preparedness for mechanised warfare in a multi-domain operational environment.

About Amogh Jwala:
Key Achievement: The key highlight of the exercise was the successful demonstration of the deployment of mechanised forces with newly inducted Apache attack helicopters, fighter aircraft, drone and counter-drone systems and network-enabled battlefield platforms.
Key Technologies Used: The drill used the advanced surveillance systems, precision firepower and real-time communication networks to enhance battlefield transparency and enhanced decision-making.
Integration of Advanced Technologies: The exercise highlighted the effective integration of Electronic Warfare (EW), Air Defence (AD) and night-fighting capabilities , which reflects the rising combat edge of a networked and future-ready force.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2026: Elon Musk Tops Globally; Mukesh Ambani Leads in India
In March 2026, Forbes released its 40th annual World’s Billionaires List 2026 , the definitive ranking of the world’s richest people featuring a record 3,428 billionaires, with Elon Musk, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of  Tesla and SpaceX, retaining the top spot for the second consecutive year with a net worth of about USD 839 billion, while Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), ranked as India’s richest with USD 99.7 billion.

• Larry Page of Alphabet (Google) ranked second with a net worth of USD 257 billion, followed by Sergey Brin of Alphabet Inc.(Google) in third place with USD 237 billion.

Highlights of Forbes Billionaires List 2026:
Overview: The list includes 3,428 billionaires with a combined net worth of USD 20.1 trillion, up from USD 16.1 trillion in 2025. The 2026 list includes 390 new entrants, reflecting a rise in younger billionaires.
Countries: The United States of America (USA) leads with 989 billionaires, followed by Mainland China with 539 billionaires and India ranking third with 229 billionaires.
Women Representation: In 2026, a total of 481 women featured on the list, accounting for 14% of all billionaires, up from 13.4% in 2025.

• Walmart heir Alice Walton remains the world’s richest woman for the second consecutive year, with USD 134 billion.

WTO Global Trade Outlook 2026: Merchandise Trade Growth to Slow to 1.9%
In March 2026, the World Trade Organization (WTO) released its Global Trade Outlook and Statistics- March 2026 report, projecting global merchandise trade growth to slow sharply to 1.9% in 2026 from 4.6% in 2025, driven by geopolitical tensions in West Asia, normalization of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-related demand, and the effects of earlier tariff-driven front-loading of shipments.
Key Findings:
2027: Global merchandise trade growth is projected to recover to 2.6% in 2027.
Overall Trade Growth: Combined goods and services trade is projected to grow by 2.7% in 2026, compared to 4.7% in 2025.
Services Trade Growth: Commercial services trade growth is expected to ease to 4.8% in 2026, down from 5.3% in 2025, before accelerating again to 5.1% in 2027.
Global GDP: The Global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is forecast to moderate slightly from 2.9% in 2025 to 2.8% in both 2026 and 2027.

BANKING & FINANCE

AIC Launches ‘Krishi Sakhi’ to Empower Women Farmers
In March 2026, the Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited (AIC), a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) which works under the Ministry of Finance (MoF), launched ‘Krishi Sakhi’, a year‑long programme aimed at empowering women farmers and enhancing their participation in agriculture and crop insurance

• This initiative is aligning with the United Nations(UN’s) designation of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Key Details:
Awareness Campaign: Under this new initiative, AIC will launch structured month-wise activities across its head office and regional offices.
Key Objectives: Through these initiatives, AIC seeks to create sustained awareness, promote participation of women in agriculture and crop insurance and recognise their contribution towards strengthening the agricultural sector.
Key Interventions: The initiative will also includes, the publication of articles and interviews, as well as awareness campaigns on sanitation and hygiene in rural communities, particularly targeting women farmers and households.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Professor Kaveh Madani Named 2026 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate
On 18 March 2026, Kaveh Madani, Director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), was named the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate at a ceremony held at UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Headquarters in Paris, France during the 2026 World Water Day(March 22) event.

• At 44, Kaveh Madani became the youngest recipient in the prize’s 35-year history, and the first UN official as well as the first former politician to receive the award.

About Kaveh Madani:
Profile: An Iranian scientist, Kaveh Madani currently serves as Director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH).
Recognition: He was honoured for his contributions to water governance and crisis management, which shifted the global focus from infrastructure-based solutions to governance-driven approaches and highlighted that weak governance is a key cause of water crises.

Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran Conferred Honorary Knighthood by UK 
In March 2026, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, was conferred the Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) by the United Kingdom (UK) government for his contribution to strengthening India–UK business relations.

• The honour was presented by Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India, at the British High Commissioner’s residence in New Delhi(Delhi), on behalf of King Charles III.

About the KBE(Civil Division) Honour:
Overview: The KBE (Civil Division) is an honorary knighthood awarded to foreign nationals for pre‑eminent service in business, public life, culture, and international relations.
Title Rule: UK nationals awarded knighthood use the title ‘Sir’ or ‘Dame’, while non-UK recipients add ‘KBE’ as a suffix to their name.
Previous Indian Recipients of KBE:  Jamshed Irani (1997), Ravi Shankar (2001), Ratan Tata (2009, later elevated to GBE in 2014), Lakshmi Niwas Mittal (2015), and Sunil Bharti Mittal (2025).

SPORTS

India to Host World Indoor Athletics Championships 2028 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha
In March 2026, the World Athletics Council (WAC) awarded India the hosting rights for the 22nd edition of the World Indoor Athletics Championships (WIAC 2028), which will be held at Kalinga Indoor Athletics Stadium (KIAS), in Bhubaneswar(Odisha), during the meeting held in Toruń (Poland).
About World Indoor Athletics Championships (WIAC) 2028:
Overview: WIAC, organized by World Athletics (WA), is a biennial track and field event first held in 1985 in Paris, France, under international athletics governance.
Significance: India will host the WIAC 2028 for the first time, becoming the fourth Asian nation after Japan, Qatar, and China.
Next Events: 21st edition of WIAC is being held in Toruń, Poland from 20–22 March 2026, while the 23rd edition of WIAC 2030 has been awarded to Astana, Kazakhstan.
Vision: It aligns with India’s ambitions to host the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2030 and Olympic Games (OG) 2036.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Happiness 2026 – March 20
The United Nations (UN’s) International Day of Happiness is observed annually across the globe on 20 March to emphasize the importance of happiness and well-being as essential components of human life and public policy.

• 2026 Theme: “Caring and Sharing”

Background:
UN Resolution: In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution A/RES/66/281, officially declaring March 20 as the International Day of Happiness with support from all 193 member states.
First Observance: The first International Day of Happiness was celebrated on 20 March 2013.
2026 Report: The World Happiness Report (WHR) 2026 was released on 20 March 2026 by the Wellbeing Research Centre (WRC), University of Oxford (UK) in partnership with Gallup Inc (GI) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN-SDSN).

• For the ninth year in a row Finland secured 1st place and India ranked 116th.

French Language Day 2026 – March 20
The United Nations (UN’s) French Language Day is observed annually across the globe on 20 March to promote multilingualism, cultural diversity, and the equal recognition of the UN’s six official languages.
Background:
Origin : The date commemorates the anniversary of the establishment of the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (Agence de coopération culturelle et technique, ACCT) on 20 March 1970 in Niamey, Niger.

• The ACCT became the Intergovernmental Agency of La Francophonie in 1998 and was later renamed the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) in 2005.

UN Language Days: It is one of the UN Language Days, as the UN observes six language days annually, each dedicated to one of its six official languages: Arabic (8 December), Chinese (20 April), English (23 April), Russian (6 June), Spanish (23 April), and French (20 March).

World Oral Health Day 2026 – March 20
World Oral Health Day (WOHD) is observed annually on 20 March to raise awareness about the importance of oral health and reduce the burden of oral diseases on individuals, health systems, and economies.

• WOHD was declared in 2007 and initially observed on 12 September, marking the birth anniversary of FDI founder Dr. Charles Godon.

World Oral Health Day Campaign (2024–2026):
Theme: “A Happy Mouth is…A Happy Mind”, highlights the link between oral health and overall well-being, including mental health.
Led by: This global observance is led by the FDI World Dental Federation (Fédération Dentaire Internationale – FDI).

STATE NEWS

Chandigarh University UP Launches CoE in Smart Healthcare to Strengthen AI Integration
In March 2026, Chandigarh University (CU), in Uttar Pradesh (UP), India’s first private Artificial Intelligence (AI)-augmented multidisciplinary university, launched a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Smart Healthcare to strengthen the state’s vision of AI in healthcare and governance.
About CoE in Smart Healthcare:
Leadership: CoE is headed by Dr. Thipendra P. Singh, Professor of AI and Pro Vice Chancellor, with support from Minister of State (MoS) Aseem Arun, (Independent Charge), Department of Social Welfare, UP.
Infrastructure: Powered by advanced Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) systems with 168 Gigabyte (GB) memory using NVIDIA Blackwell architecture, enabling high-end research and AI model development.
Function: The CoE will function as a testbed for smart city healthcare solutions, support five AI startups over the next two years, facilitate hospital-based validation of technologies, and strengthen Uttar Pradesh’s healthcare ecosystem through AI-driven integration.
Training: The University launched Artificial Intelligence Ethics Training Programme (AIETP) in collaboration with upGrad, aims to train 1.50 lakh youth in 5 years.

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